Cost 3. Co-pay

A co-pay is a fixed dollar ($$) amount you pay when you get a health service. A health service could be a doctor visit, a lab test, a prescription medicine or a visit to the emergency room. Different types of health services have different co-pays.

Cost 3: Co-pay

Co-pay

A fixed dollar ($$) amount you pay when you get a health service, except for preventive services.

A health service could be a doctor visit, a laboratory test, a prescription medicine or a visit to the emergency room.

Different types of health services have different co-pays.

For example, a doctor’s office visit may have a $15 co-pay. You must pay this at the doctor’s office.

Your co-pay for prescription drugs could be $5 for some medicines and more for others. Make sure to ask your doctor to prescribe a lower-cost medication, if possible. You must pay this co-pay at the pharmacy or drug store.

The co-pay for an emergency room visit will usually cost a lot more. It could be $150 or more.

Some health plans don’t require co-pays until after you have met your annual deductible. Others require co-pays from the moment you start to use your coverage.

How do I find out what my co-pay is?

If you are not sure what your co-pay is, call the member services telephone number listed on your insurance card. But remember: There are no co-pays for preventive services like a well-woman visit or birth control.

Raising Women’s Voices for the Health Care We Need is a national initiative working to make sure women’s voices are heard and our concerns are addressed as the AffordableCare Act (ACA) is implemented. READ MORE.

A Project of: Raising Women’s Voicesfor the Health Care We Needwith Parsons The New School for Designand the Ms. Foundation for Women

Additional funding support provided by: The AlkiFund of the Rockefeller Family FundThe General Services FoundationThe Ford FoundationThe David and Lucille Packard FoundationKatherine S. Villers